WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) delivered remarks today at a press conference with House Democratic leaders on the need to focus on jobs and discussed the Democrats' Make It In America plan. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

"Let me suggest at the outset that talking about jobs is talking about debt. The only way to successfully deal with our debt is to create jobs and economic growth in America. After seven months there has not been a single jobs bill--that is the negligent record of the Republicans.

"Democrats have been focused on the Make It In America plan, because innovation and manufacturing create middle class jobs and are essential to the growth of our economy. One item on our agenda is a national manufacturing strategy. Our competitors have a strategy; we, too, need an effective game plan to out-innovate, out-build, and out-invest our competitors around the world. We must invest to create manufacturing jobs.

"The plan also includes an infrastructure bank. We need to facilitate efficient private sector investments in infrastructure. With an infrastructure bank, we will be able to out-build our competitors by investing in needed projects from broadband to energy systems to modern ports.

"We also focus on clean energy, because a vision of America that powers itself with clean energy is the future. It's the most important new economic sector, and, with China and Europe investing in it heavily, we must work harder to make America the world's clean energy leader.

"Finally, our plan includes currency reform. Last year, under Democratic leadership, the House passed a bipartisan bill holding accountable countries that manipulate currency to gain unfair trade advantages. We need to again send a bill to the Senate to level the playing field for our manufacturers."